The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) claims to have received 427,606 complaints of human rights abuses in a single month.
The commission’s executive secretary, Tony Ojukwu, announced activities for the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence (GBV) campaign at a news conference in Abuja on Friday.
According to Ojukwu, in October alone, 38 of its offices nationwide got the cases.
According to him, the 16-day campaign to combat gender-based violence (GBV) is set to take place between November 25 and December 10.
He continued by saying that the topic for this year, “Equality: reducing inequality and advancing human rights,” is an appeal to address GBV and reaffirm Nigeria’s dedication to human rights.
Ojukwu said:
“The campaign reminds us of the need to address the inequalities that perpetuate violence against women and girls and challenges us to bridge the gaps hindering the realisation of these rights.”
In order to prevent violence against women and girls, he urged cooperation from all relevant parties, including the media, civil society organisations, women’s associations, faith-based organisations, and security services.
According to a UN Women report quoted by Ojukwu, one in three women worldwide will encounter violence at some point in their lives, with teenage girls being especially at risk.
State-wide roadshows, advocacy visits to legislative and judicial offices, discussions with women and youth groups, and school sensitisation programs are among the events planned for the campaign, he said.
According to him, the NHRC would also host forums with legal and medical experts to improve GBV response systems and involve religious and traditional leaders in addressing the rights of women and girls.
According to Ojukwu, the European Union’s (EU)-funded Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) program, which is carried out by International IDEA, supports the NHRC’s work.
Since its introduction in 2019, he said, the measures have resulted in the creation of sexual assault referral centres and sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) courts throughout Nigeria.
In order to address GBV, Ojukwu reiterated the NHRC’s dedication to elevating the voices of the under-represented, encouraging accountability, and spurring action.
“We must continue to raise awareness, foster dialogue, and implement measures that uphold the dignity and rights of every Nigerian, especially women and girls,” he added.
